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mlkonopa

wood filler or redo?

5 years ago

The contractor re-installed my molding above my cabinets (originally took down to put up door and window trim, long story) and I noticed a chip on the corner. I’ve had nothing but disasters with this company. They were going to put wood filler where they have nail holes. (Is this even a good idea?) Should I just have wood filler put over the chip as well, or would that look bad? To be honest, it’s not in an obvious area. The other option is having them take it down and put up a new piece of molding. However, I’m worried about something worse happening if the do all that.

Comments (9)

  • 5 years ago

    Will that trim be painted" It's a terribly incompetent installation, but you could hide most of that unprofessional work with filler, caulk, and paint.

  • 5 years ago

    @kudzu9 You don’t know the half of it with the incompetence. No, this won’t be painted. These are part of the custom made red birch cabinets I just had installed.

  • 5 years ago

    OMG! Sorry to hear that. I could do a better job drunk, and I'm not even a carpenter.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    have you worked w filler? it can be done yourself......not that hard..Two shades of product...pick up the light and the med tone w two choices of the product. . Fill deeper parts first. As you get to the surface you start layering in the two tone effect.... .you'll see. you play with it a bit. it'll be fine...it's high up. we moved my parents Mid century teak and walnut furniture.....there were some gouges ...filler.....no one notices and this is front of pieces of furniture.....taking things apart and reassembly is fraught w this sort of thing.... the wood grain is nice...you managed to re use what you had. You have to accept a bit of this...I wouldnt redo or paint or anything like that.

  • 5 years ago

    @herbflavor Thanks. I feel a little better now. I’m going to let him fill the holes then and the chipped part. The scratches in my door though, I’ll do myself. I’m afraid even for them to take off the hinges for me and rehang it after I sand and re-spray. I’m told not to just do a small spot because of overlap, but I tried on a scrap piece, and I couldn’t see where my spray started and stopped.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    scratches in the door? I guess you didn't show that. Note they have the "pens" and "sticks' in addition to the filler mud. Depends on what the scratch is like. I think I'd seriously take a pict if its the cabinet door /drawer front? If the scratch can't be doctored....location...too deep...too long and you are unhappy w it....you should have some cooperation from them as to a solution. Maybe its minor..I don't know but you shouldn't have damaged fronts.

  • 5 years ago

    @herbflavor The cabinetmaker is family, so I have detailed instructions from them how to fix them. I could always pay for a new door too. I’m just nervous about taking them down myself, and would need someone to hang them. These contractors though, it’s as if everything they touch, they destroy.

  • 5 years ago

    They (or you) might be able to mask the big chip with some careful sanding - enough to remove jagged edges but still maintain the overall profile of the moulding. Then, yes, filler.

    The visible pencil line is just too much - that, to me, says they don't care about their finished product. I'd either sand that off or insist they do it prior to filling.

  • 5 years ago

    @salex I’ll try sanding myself today. I have lacquer to spray over it. I cleaned up the pencil line today. Yeah, they don’t seem to care about their work. They hung a door with a chip in it about the size of two whole fingers.